Update: Manager charged with theft is back at work

WEST BRANDYWINE — The township’s manager landed in hot water this week after he was arrested for allegedly misusing more than $456 in municipal funds.

According to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, 59-year-old Ronald Rambo is accused of misappropriating township money by filing fraudulent expense reports and reusing and forging receipts.

The investigation began after the Chester County Detectives received information claiming Rambo was stealing township funds, officials said. He was charged with multiple misdemeanor counts of forgery and theft.

“There is no such thing as petty corruption,” said District Attorney Tom Hogan. “Any misuse of public funds by a government worker undermines the faith and trust of the public. Any public employee who steals public funds will be arrested and prosecuted.”

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Rambo has worked as the township manager in West Brandywine for over 20 years. Officials said Rambo was responsible for reviewing and approving employee reimbursement requests.

According to a criminal complaint filed by investigators, Rambo fraudulently submitted medical receipts multiple times by changing the names and dates listed on the receipts. Investigators said the changes to the receipts were obvious with a simple review and that most of the changes were written by hand.

On March 18 Rambo was placed on a two-week paid leave that lasted until April 2. Supervisor William Webb moved to extend the leave at the last Board of Supervisors meeting, but the motion was not seconded by the either of the board’s other two members and Rambo was allowed to return to work as normal.

Webb said Thursday that Rambo has been a “phenomenal township manager,” but he moved to extend his leave because he wanted to learn the outcome of the District Attorney’s investigation before taking further action.

“I just wanted to make sure we do the right thing,” Webb said. “The Board of Supervisors is elected to represent the people of West Brandywine, and we have to do our best to do what is best for the taxpayers.”

Webb said he would like to revisit the issue of Rambo’s status now that charges have been filed, but is unsure if the rest of the board feels the same way.

“To me the dollar amount doesn’t matter. There is a right thing to do and a wrong thing to do, public trust is everything,” Webb said. “I would like to revisit the issue, but I don’t think the other supervisors feel the same way.”

Supervisors’ chairman Tom McCaffrey appeared to question the seriousness of Rambo’s alleged crimes after the charges were announced Thursday.

“All crime is like a vector, it has magnitude and a direction. Unlike the district attorney, I need to know the magnitude of the crime before I decide on punishment,” McCaffrey said. “A misdemeanor charge rather than a felony charge must indicate that a small amount of money is involved. How much public money do you spend to determine how much money was lost? How much does the public want to spend? How much do you punish a person?”

The third township supervisor, Joe Obernier Sr., said he was “shocked and saddened by the charges and what Ron has appeared to have done.” He added that the township has known of the investigation for several weeks and has already taken steps to eliminate Rambo’s access to public funds.

“The board has been aware of this for two to three weeks and right or wrong we’ve taken steps to remove Ron from handling any money and making expenditures. We’ve already made other people township treasurer and secretary. We’re going to restructure the inside,” Obernier said.

Obernier said that if found guilty, the township will ask the Rambo repay the money he took and issue a “ten-fold” fine to cover the township’s “tremendous unexpected legal fees.”

Rambo did not return calls made to his office Thursday.

The investigation into Rambo’s alleged criminal activity remains open, and investigators will continue to review records to determine if any other funds were stolen.

“We are relatively fortunate in Chester County. Unlike some places where public corruption is commonplace, Chester County prides itself on maintaining high standards among government employees,” Hogan said. “We will not stand for corruption in Chester County.”